Combination arch-support.



R. S. CARLING.

COMBINATION ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLzcATloN m50 JULY 23.1911.

.Patented J m10 18, 1918.

YIrzventor by Ro'se S.Carling @J i BOSE S. CARLING, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION ARCH-SUPPORT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

Application led July 23, 1917. Serial No. 182,249.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FROSE S. CARLiNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combination Arch- Supports, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an arch support and particularly pertains to a combination support for various arches of the foot.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an arch support and particularly pertains to a support which may be readily adapted to the longitudinal arch, the anterior transverse arch and the under surface of the heel so that these weakened parts will be separably held in a manner to relieve pain and cause them to become strengthened.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a view in plan illustrating the foot support and particularly disclosing the areas of reinforcement thereof.

F ig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section, as seen on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, and particularly discloses the supports for the transvlere arch, the longitudinal arch, and the Fig. 3 is a view in transverse cross section as seen on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. et is a diagrammatical view in plan illustrating the application of the pad to the sole of the foot.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective disclosing the applicator used to place the pad in the support.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating one of the pad elements used in the heel supporting area.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates ya foot sup ort which is formed of three separate pad ed areas.` An area 11 adapted to be disposed beneath the ball of the foot for the support of the transverse arch, and an area 12 adapted to be positioned along the under and inner side of the foot and lengthwise thereof to support the longitudinal arch, and an area 13 adapted to occur beneath the heel of the foot to cushion it. The area 11 is rectangular and of a width substantially that of the foot thus extending entirely across the ball of the foot and permitting a padding material 14 to be placed at any point beneath the ball of the foot. This padding material is preferably sponge rubber, Valthough it will be understood that other resilient materials might be used. Theheel portion is of a shape which substantially conforms to the heel of the foot. It will be noted that by an examination of Fig. 1, the central portion of the support does not strictly conform to the under surface of the foot, but is enlarged along the inner side of the foot so that when it is in the shoe the padded area will lie firmly against the under and inner side of the longitudinal arch. The padded portion of this area is semi-circular and thus conforms to the instep. This construction Y of the area 12 insures that the weight placed upon the arch will be thrown outwardly and downwardly along the outer and strongest side of the instep. It will be understood that the area 12 may be disposed above or below the insole, as desired.

The area 11 is bounded on three sides byl stitching, while the other side is left open so that the padding material may be placed therein or removed by the applicator 15.' The flexible sheet 16 is substantially straight on its inner marginal edge and its outer margin extends in a semi-circle from the ends of the straight edge, there being a flap or handle 17 at the center of the semi-circle. The sheet 16 covers the areaD 12 and is stitched along its straight edge to the inner edge of the insole formed by the sheets 18 and 19, and lines of stitching run from thev ends of the straight edge to near the iap, thus producing a pocket having an entrance under the iiap. Reference being `had to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the area 13 occurs between the upper and lower exible sheets of material 18 and 19. The members 18 and 19 nare separated at the heel portion of the pad to receive layers of padding 20, as partlcularly shown inF ig. 5. These layers con- 100 form to' the heel compartment 13 and also ithe central longitudinal arch compartment 12. A layer of soft rubber or sponge rubber 1s preferably used in the pads 20, and thus a smooth resilient adjustable heel support is provided.

In the use of vthis support, the compart- 'ments areilled, after an examination of the arch, either forward or backward, or from side to side. ln case the longitudinal arch of the foot needs reinforcement, padding may be inserted through the opening under the iiap 17 into 'the area l2 to the required amount, after which the special sheets of padding 20 may be used in the heel area 13 to cushion the heel. The pocket forming the area l2 may be stu'ed with curled hair or the like to any desired extent and t any desired shape by the use of a button-hook' or the like inserted under the lap 17 and the Stull-ing may be pulled out and changed as desired. `When the support is placed within the shoe, the area 12 will lie along the under and inner side of the foot, thus forming a reinforcing pad which conforms to the instep and will cushion it and throw the weight of the body from the weakened inner portion of the arch to the stronger outer portion. The padding within the area 1l will cushion the transverse arch and support it in a. comfortable manner. The entire under navdooe entire structure is exible and will 'adapt itself readily to the contour of the foot.

lt will thus be seen that the supports here disclosed are simple in their construction, comparatively inexpensive as to manufacturing costs and will satisfactorily provide a universal support for all of the tender and weakened portions of the foot.

While l have shown the preferred `form of my combination arch support as now known to me, it is evident that various changesv in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

l claim: f

An arch support comprising an insole, a flexible sheet substantially straight on its inner marginal edge and semi-circular on its outer margin from the ends of the straight edge; there being a ap at the center of the semi-circle and the sheet being stitched along its straight edge to the inner edge of the insole and alone' its circular edge from the ends of thestraight edge to near the flap, thus forming a pocket having an entrance under the flap; and stung inserted into the pocket through said entrance.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

nose s. cantine. 

